UNDP and Civil Society Organizations

UNDP, as the UN global development network, works closely with civil society organizations (CSOs) at all levels to promote the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and help people build a better life. UNDP encourages policy dialogues between governments, CSOs and donors and advocates for legal and regulatory environments that enable CSOs to contribute to the development process. UNDP also helps CSOs to develop their own capacity by connecting them to knowledge, experience and resources from around the world, including from CSOs in other countries and regions.

NEW Resource Sheet on Poverty Reduction Strategies: presenting perspectives from civil society organizations (Updated December 2005). NEW Resource Sheet on the Millennium Development Goals: presenting perspectives from civil society organizations and international institutions (Updated September 2005). UNDP in Botswana, Brazil, Kenya, Colombia, Liberia and Sri Lanka set up national civil society advisory committees. UNDP in Albania  enhances civil society participation in the MDGs process. UNDP in Mauritius launches three-year programme to strengthen the NGO sector. Working Group on Civil Society formed in follow up to Cardoso panel report. UNDP-SNV MoU for innovative partnership: A three-year programme launched with the largest Dutch development organization will strengthen local actors to help them participate in MDG and poverty-reduction processes. Asia and the Pacific Regional Initiative on Indigenous Peoples reaches planning and implementation stage. Launch of human rights pilot projects in Ecuador and Kenya. Kenya country office launches the United Nations Indigenous Peoples' Advisory committee of Kenya (UNIPACK).

NEW "UNDP and Civil Society Organizations: A Toolkit for Strengthening Partnerships" (PDF version) (Word version) (The toolkit features a methodology for CSO mappings, CSO capacity assessment, and community to community learning exchanges. It also includes an operational guide for working with CSOs. Information on the design and role of CSO advisory committees at the global and national levels is also provided in addition to a section on useful resources in the areas of capacity development, assessments, training and NGO legislation.) NEW Insights into Participatory Video: a handbook for the field is a practical guide to setting up and running PV projects in the field. The handbook, commissioned by the CSO Division, Global Environmental Fund Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) and the Human Rights Strengthening Programme (Hurist), was written by PV facilitators Nick and Chris Lunch of Insight. Prolinnova, Compas and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) also collaborated on the handbook. The guide includes games and exercises to introduce PV and key messages are highlighted by illustrations, cartoons and photographs. A selection of video films made by local communities and a training film are included in the accompanying CD-ROM. For additional information on Insight, please visit Insightshare. NEW Experiences from the Field: UNDP-CSO Partnerships for Conflict Prevention. This new report highlights innovative partnerships between UNDP and CSOs in conflict prevention and peace building. Beyond the Silencing of the Guns, a collection of 10 case studies highlighting the role of CSOs in crisis prevention and recovery. Activa Consultores launches Manual para el Control Ciudadano de la Declaracion del Milenio (Manual for Citizen Control of the Millennium Declaration), a tool kit on monitoring the MDGs, poverty eradication and gender equality for Latin American civil society. Available in Spanish only.